Cheap Ways To Improve The Mets: Outfield





Hi Klaw,Reese Havens, eventually: starting MLB second baseman, utility guy, organizational guy or pizza delivery guy? Thanks.
Depends on how fast he drives.
And this on Mets prospects in general:
Given the play of many Mets prospects this year, do you think their farm system is much deeper than given credit for. For example Ike Davis, Holt, Mejia, Nieuwenhuis, Tejeda, Thole, Familia, etc. have had very solid years. It is better than the local and national media would have you believe. However, Holt has been lit up like a California forest in AA. I'm not that excited by him.Rory (NYC)
Keith Law
This one is about is about as under-the-radar as it gets -- according to ChuSpo, the Mets have agreed to sign Japanese teenager Taiki Kawasaki to a minor league contract. Kawasaki is a 17 year-old left handed pitcher who had been training at Julio Franco'sbaseball academy in Florida. The Osaka native left Japan after finishing junior high school in April 2008 with the hopes of catching on with an MLB organization. In his time in Franco's academy, Kawasaki has grown from 177cm, 66kg (5′10, 145) to 185cm 77kg (6′1, 170), and added velocity to his fastball, which now averages around 140kmph (about 87mph). An older report mentions that Kawasaki has a slider and curve as well.
I couldn't find any English info on this signing, but this ESPN Deportes article from last year mentions Kawasaki's presence at Franco's academy. Franco will reportedly travel to Japan in mid-October to officially announce the signing.
So he has an 87 MPH fastball, which is good for a 17 year old, he has a slider and a curve, and has been training at Julio Franco's baseball academy in Florida, interesting...





Acquired: Signed as free agent



